<p>I'm going into my senior year of high school. I'm planning on majoring in physics. My goal is to earn a PhD in either physics or astrophysics and eventually become a college professor. If I double major, I would do finance or accounting. This would give me many options if my physics degree didn't pan out financially.</p>
<p>Astronomy or biology are possibilities as well, as I am interested in both fields but don't know how useful they would be...</p>
<p>Ok, so here are my options:</p>
<p>1) University of Maryland College Park -- Accepts all of my 60+ credits, allowing me to easily double major. Tuition - free, I have a good chance of receiving scholarships to cover room and board, possibly fees and books as well. Ranked 13 among physics graduate programs, and #1 among public physics programs on the east coast.</p>
<p>2) Harvard, MIT, Caltech, or Stanford -- Accept far fewer credits, but I have a big name on my side. Double major would be far more difficult. Likely cost = 30-50k a year.</p>
<p>3) United States Naval Academy -- Accepts far fewer credits, not ranked in physics list so I don't know where it would stand academically. I like the discipline and leadership but am not sure yet whether I 100% want to be in the military. </p>
<p>4) Oxford or Cambridge -- I don't know much about their physics programs, but I assume after attending one of these colleges I would have a good chance at getting into upper level graduate schools. Is this accurate? The experience of living in another country and living with in a different culture for 3 years seems extraordinary.</p>
<p>I thank you very much for helping me make one of the most critical decisions of my life.</p>
<p>I would personally see if I can get into any of these programs first. Given the information you have provided, University of Maryland CP seems to be the best fit for you. It has a very nice and strong program in physics, okay/strong reputation, gives you the flexibility to take more indepth and higher level courses (assuming you've got all the 60 credits you covered transferred), more financial sound decision etc...</p>
<p>Don't worry about the brand name of the undergraduate and hoping it will carry you into a graduate school without doing work.</p>
<p>The only difference is the type of students your surrounded with, the amount of brains and talent around you that your competiting against, and maybe the level of internships or opportunity for research might be more easily accessible at higher tier college.</p>
<p>If you aim to become a physics college professor, then your graduate degree matters. Its best to accutually be among the top few brightest at UMaryland and take advantage of the wide plentiful resources from select professors than just be drowned out by a bunch of people who already excell in physics/astrophysics and not be a standout.</p>
<p>Either way, you can't go wrong with ether choice. If the graduate degree matters most, then going to whatever undergrad really doesn't make a difference so long as you are the best among that pool of group.</p>
<p>Get in first, worry later.</p>
<p>Haha, sounds good. I'll be pretty lucky to get into any of the colleges in #2.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice Phead, it's good to know you don't have to go to an ivy to get into a great grad school.</p>
<p>Post your question or one about the merits of majoring in physics in the engineering section.</p>
<p>You will get an eye-opener about the pitfalls of majoring in a pure science, like math or physics. If your grad school plans are postponed, you won't have a decent-paying job as an option.</p>
<p>Far better to have some engineering courses along with the physics, just in case. You could minor or go a little above,not necessarily major, in an engineering, but then, if physics doesn't work out for some reason, you could finish up the eng degree.</p>
<p>You have to get in on the ground floor (as a freshman, in other words) in engineering if you don't want to spend 5 yrs in college. I urge you to take some eng courses of some ilk (maybe electrical, see which attracts you) as you go along on your physics trajectory. You may be glad you did.</p>
<p>Oh, sorry, I see you did think of this and plan to also major in accounting. Well, the advice still stands as something to consider.</p>
<p>UMD sounds like the best option. like others said, you would be more likely to stand out there and take advantage of everything it offers AND its program is highly regarded without being cutthroat.</p>
<p>for the rest of them.. see if you can get in first</p>